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Lumiose City; an ordinarily bustling center of fashion, patisseries, filming, and science turning the key to the future. The crown jewel of Kalos was envied all over the world for its sights and its personnel. In the past couple of weeks, it became something far darker, on the Eve of the Red Sky, following the 2005 Lumiose Conference. The less said about that night, the better.
But, the city and its populace were healing. Gored and demolished buildings sported scaffoldings, and handymen and assorted Pokémon did their part in mending the damages.
Just as well, its citizens were returning to normalcy. Where there were Pokémon, there were Pokémon Trainers. And where there were Pokémon Trainers, there were Pokémon Battles.
A side walkway just outside the business district bordered a park, and was mostly cast in shadow; the midmorning sun hiding to the street's east. Petals of light filtered through gaps in a battered arch overlooking a small outdoor shopping mall. A dark-skinned young woman with brown hair, secured in four different symmetrical loops, and a tuft over her forehead leaned against the side of the arch, with one leg crossed over the other. She sipped on her boba tea, while her Ivysaur bathed in the little sunlight that filtered through the broken architecture, nearby.
She wore a hot pink top with black trimmings, and three black bows stitched vertically into its center, starting beneath her bosom, complete with a matching purse and a frilly black scrunchy around her right wrist, and jean booty shorts with similar black frills. Her stylish pink shoes tapped the cobblestone path, in eager anticipation for what laid before her pale green eyes — an unfolding altercation in the middle of the walkway, between two Pokémon Trainers.
"Alright. I didn't get to face you in the Lumiose Conference, but now's my chance!" A young man whose fashion sense walked the narrow line of fashionable and avant garde challenged, as he adjusted his colorful necktie, sporting a bold green, yellow, and red. He wore a cream colored blazer with a white undershirt and dark jeans. His bright lime green hair was styled in a bizarre bowl cut with splashes of pink, as if his head were adorned with a blooming flower.
Striking, golden eyes focused in on the young man across the way, who had a Pikachu at his side. He gripped a Poké Ball and tossed it forward. Its bright light took the shape of a Meganium, who belted out with a ferocious cry unsuited to their gentle appearance.
"The name's Oliver, and this is Meganium! We'd like to battle that special Greninja of yours!"
"Yeah, is that right?" The man opposite grinned, tugging on the red cuffs of his fingerless black gloves; his left bearing a Keystone. His olive complexion was hidden beneath the gray brim of his red cap. He was clad in stylish blues, grays, and reds, but his spiky dark teal hair and striking brown eyes stood out most of all. This was Ash Ketchum; Champion of this year's Lumiose Conference, at the tail end of a long list of accolades. "We'd love to take you on!"
He turned toward the arch looming over the young lady and her Ivysaur and cupped a hand around his mouth, calling out with a smile, "you heard 'im, Greninja! Let's give it a go!"
"Kou!" A shadow stood out under the arch's peak. It leapt into the meager sunlight and over Ash's head, landing before him with a webbed hand planted. Sharp, coral eyes locked onto Meganium's amber. Greninja stood upright, clasping his hands together in focus. "Kouga!"
Oliver and his Meganium alike looked startled. The former laughed. "He was there all along, huh? That's the 'mysterious' Greninja for you! So, I'd say it's best if we cut to the chase…!" He tapped his index and middle fingers against the pin on his tie, bearing a Keystone. A kaleidoscope of lights ignited, spreading in a web towards the bangle on Meganium's tail.
"A Keystone…!?" Ash exclaimed, eyes widening in surprise., "Then, that means…!"
Greninja's eyes narrowed.
"Meganium! Let your full power bloom!" Oliver cried. "Mega Evolve!"
"Megaaaayy…!" Oliver's Meganium cried, and the Meganiumite on his bangle ignited, connecting to the Keystone with many tendrils of Infinity Energy. He was clouded in light, and his silhouette began to grow significantly in size. A high-pitch cry echoed, as the antennae atop his head started to change, curling into a loop. His legs became more pronounced and sturdy. Most amazing of all, though, was the flower around his neck blooming and multiplying.
A deluge of Infinity Energy kicked up a shockwave, as the transformation completed.
"MEGAAA!"
The colorful symbol of Mega Evolution flashed before Meganium and then dissipated, revealing his true form. Most of his body was the same, only larger, but one thing was impossible to ignore — the tower of flowers stacked from the base of his neck all the way up to his chin. Blooming, voluminous petals stood in a tower, spanning a gradient of pale white to passionate pink. Meganium's antennae were a stronger gold, standing in a loop atop his head.
"Megay~" Meganium cooed, and the petals around his neck fluttered, casting a soothing scent.
"Gek…" Greninja sniffed at the air, and his body went somewhat lax. A blue light washed over him, and he suddenly felt… calmer than he'd ever felt. What a strange feeling.
"Greninja…? Somethin' just got weaker," Ash muttered. He sniffed the air, and then his posture started to slack, too. "Oh wow, it smells amazing! Even better than a regular Meganium!"
Olivers lips picked up in a wry smile. "You like that? I hope so. It's our consolation prize for when we defeat you!"
"Kou…" Greninja shook his head, and stood back upright. "Kouga," he shouted to Ash.
"Right! I guess whatever Meganium's ability is weakened us with that scent," Ash replied
"Just a precautionary measure," Oliver replied. "I'd say it's about time you transform Greninja into that special state we saw at the conference! Everyone around Lumiose has been meaning to take a crack at that, and if you don't mind, I'd like to be the first!"
Ash smirked at that. "Yeah? Try to make us, if you can."
Oliver's smile disappeared. "You don't want to take us seriously? Very well. We'll make you!" He gestured a hand towards Greninja. "Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Gay!" meganium cried, as a blinding halo of pastel colors wrapped around the Herb Pokémon. She charged towards Greninja, aiming to expose him to the overpowering flash.
"Dodge that!" Ash cried, waving a hand. Greninja sprung well over the street and out of Meganium's range as he charged towards Ash, skidding to a halt before colliding with him.
"Water Shuriken!"
Greninja hung over and behind Meganium upside down, and smacked his hands against the emblems on his hips. Two spinning shuriken formed, and he slung them at Meganium, back-to-back. He twirled upside down, slinging three more Water Shuriken backhanded.
They smacked into Meganium's hide in succession, popping into a fine mist. Meganium flicked his stubby tail, bearing a few small scratches, but no sign of real pain. He stretched his neck, smiling down at Ash, as if to mock him for their ineffectual assault.
Ash's eyes narrowed. Analytical, but not intimidated. "Their defenses are something else!"
"Yeah, and they're about to get a whole lot worse," Oliver replied. "Light Screen!"
Meganium's eyes flickered with a fuchsia light, before several translucent matching screens rotated around him. They faded from view afterwards, hidden, but reinforcing his defenses.
"Now, you won't be doing any damage to us! Meganium, use Bullet Seed!"
"Mega!" Meganium cried in turn, and stomped his way around to pivot back towards Greninja.
Ash's eyes narrowed at the way they shuffled.
Meganium opened fire, spitting a storm of concussive seeds toward Greninja.
"Cut through, with Aerial Ace!" Ash cried, chopping the air.
"Kou!" Greninja flexed both of his hands outward, igniting them with thin, glowing blades. He charged directly towards the Bullet Seed barrage, leaning forward for an aerodynamic sprint.
A storm of light flickered, as he sliced through the seeds with lightning-fast reflexes.
The seeds were cut in half, and knocked away, exploding at a safe distance. "Koooou…!" Greninja cried, lunging at Meganium. He slashed across Meganium's sturdy neck with outward strikes. The Grass-type was sent skidding back.
"Now, follow it up with Triple Axel!"
Greninja landed in front of the stumbling quadruped, landing first with one webbed foot, and then the other in front of it. He leaned into a crouch, and coated his feet an an icy haze, crystallizing frost beneath them, like sheets of ice. "Kouuuu… Ga!" He lunged high, kicking up into Meganium's jaw with his follow-through. The Herb Pokémon cried, stumbling back, with a path of frost clinging to his flower petals and jawline. Greninja hung in the air, left leg up high.
"Kooou…!" He swung around with a roundhouse kick, striking Meganium's head with his right foot, knocking him off-balance to stumble to his own right. His cheek suffered the same chill.
Greninja used the follow-through to spin all the way around to strike the back of Meganium's head with the back of his left heel. "Kou-ga!"
"Gah…!" Meganium stumbled forward several steps in a stagger, while Greninja hung in the air behind him. He shivered under the lingering sting of the cold sticking to his scales and petals.
"That speed…!" Oliver's amber eyes trembled, then narrowed. "He's close! Dazzling Gleam!"
Meganium grit his teeth, and then whipped his head around, directly into Greninja's personal space. The frog's eyes widened. He had no defense for the Grass-type's glimmering eyes.
A bright flash seared his body, wrapping both Pokémon in a halo of colorful lights.
"Ga…!" Greninja cried, as he was sent flying down the street.
The brunette gasped, jolting upright from her lax posture on the sidelines. "Greninja…! That was a direct hit. And I think it was super-effective, too! Greninja's a Dark-type, right!?"
"Saur," Ivysaur grumbled lazily, without even opening her eyes.
"Aww…!" Shauna pouted at her starter, her cheek poking out. "You're not even watching!"
"Press our advantage!" Oliver cried. "Use Bullet Seed!"
Meganium opened his mouth, and fired a machine gun blitz of speed toward Greninja.
Ash's eyes flicked up and down the street. Greninja was still reeling from Dazzling Gleam. "Greninja!" He cried. "The lamp post, coming up on your left!"
Greninja roused from the pain he'd been dealt at Ash's cry. Ever-perceptive, he scanned his surroundings, and his pink eyes caught onto the incoming lamppost. A young girl was sharing a galette with her male Meowstic. She and her Pokémon gasped, as the frog's tongue snapped out, and tied around the pole. Greninja swung, and swung, and swung, building up momentum.
"Woah…!" The child looked up at the frog in awe, dropping her galette in her astonishment.
Luckily, her Meowstic caught it with his telekinesis before it hit the ground.
Greninja released himself on his fifth swing, slingshotting himself back towards Meganium. He tumbled in a backwards somersault, tucking into his body to reduce wind resistance.
Oliver gasped, as dark navy blur shot over his Meganium's head. "Meganium! Behind you!"
"Gah…?" Meganium struggled to regain his bearings. Greninja had moved so fast! He started to backtrack, slowly reorienting his body. His neck, on its own, couldn't afford him a proper view!
Ash's eyes narrowed. 'Yes. That neck of theirs…!' He had an idea. "Rapid-fire Water Shuriken!"
Greninja unraveled and straightened himself out, tumbling and twirling through the air upside-down. He slung one Water Shuriken after another towards Meganium. "Kou-ga!"
Meganium felt the shuriken pelt against his flower, over and over again. Light Screen flickered, reducing the damage to nill. It was good for Meganium, as he took a moment to totally turn his large body around. His tower of flowers was bathed in mist from back to front in the process.
"Your speed is incredible," Oliver said," but that doesn't mean anything when your attacks don't even phase us!" His lips turned up in a smirk, following the backhanded praise.
Ash knew well enough to ignore it. "Flank them! Aerial Ace!"
"Kouuuu…!" Greninja somersaulted, and plummeted with a dropkick, kicking Meganium directly in the rear. The Grass-type howled, but found no reprieve, as he slashed away at the Grass-type's right hip with consecutive slashes of the blades sharpened from his hands.
"Ga-Ga! Kougah!"
"Gaah…!" Meganium roared in pain and irritation. His tree trunk legs stomped against the ground in growing irritability.
"Now, I think that's enough!" Oliver shouted. "Meganium! Blow them away! Leaf Storm!"
"Gaah…!" Meganium stomped his way around clockwise to pivot towards Greninja and gear his poor, scathed flank away from the frog's reach. The Herb craned his neck towards Greninja, and the many colorful flowers around his neck flared, each emitting a harsh glow reflecting their hue.
A howling storm of sharp, energized leaves blasted away at Greninja.
Ash grinned, flipping up the brim of his cap with his thumb. "Substitute!"
"What!?" Oliver exclaimed; his voice even cracked. But, it was already too late.
A cloud of smoke appeared where Greninja was, before Leaf Storm blasted through it, carrying a wooden log higher and higher into the air, where the powerful leaves shredded away its bark.
Meganium craned his neck, watching the false target ascent.
"Now!" Ash roared, raising his right foot for a high kick. "Triple Axel!"
Greninja appeared in front of the distracted Meganium, hiding in their shadow. He crouched and lunged, kicking all the way up their colorful bloom. Icy white frost washed over the flowers, and thick vapor clouded in the air.
Meganium found that he didn't feel pain, or any dull, cold impact. Instead, he felt numb.
"Gah…?" Meganium tried to turn back towards the frog. He found that his neck wouldn't move!
"Ah…!" Oliver gasped. "What did you do to my Meganium!?"
"Quoi!?" Shauna exclaimed, holding her splayed palm over her mouth. "Pass possible!"
Meganium's beautiful bloom looked more like a chandelier than a bouquet; it was entirely frozen in ice, from the base of his neck all the way up to his chin. No matter how much the Mega Evolution tried, he couldn't angle his neck back forward! His flower was crystallized in a statue!
"We've got them right where we want them!" Ash declared his triumph with a hoisted fist; his smile wide with glee. "Greninja! Slide on under!" The frog did as told, diving forward and beneath the quadruped, before turning belly-up, and planted his hands against the ground.
"Aerial Ace!"
"Ga!" Greninja kicked directly into Meganium's underbelly, knocking him into the air.
Oliver could only watch, mouth agape, as his Pokémon soared several stories, belly-up.
Several homeowners and shopkeeps looked out their windows, awestruck at the sight.
Ash grinned victoriously, chopping a hand downward. "Finish it!"
Greninja was above Meganium, without so much as rustling the breeze. He eclipsed the sun, casting a striking and heroic silhouette. One arm rose high above his head, and its shimmering blade was magnified by the sun. "Kouuu…!" Greninja roared, striking the blade into Meganium.
"Ga!"
Meganium plummeted and collided with the cobblestone path. Dust and shattered ice were scattered to the wind in the hero's wake. Greninja hung above, and slipped into obscurity.
The light around Meganium shattered, and he returned to his base state, unconscious.
Oliver let out a long sigh, and recalled his Pokémon. "Thank you. You did your best."
It was difficult for him to swallow his pride. But he did walk up to Ash, who'd just bumped his fist against Greninja's, and rubbed his neck. "How irritating. And I was hoping I could see that form!"
"Sorry," Ash smiled, and it really did look apologetic. "Maybe next time!" He offered a hand.
Oliver took it in a firm shake, and then offered the same to Greninja, who reciprocated.
"Say, kind of off-topic," Oliver said, "but you used that Bayleef of yours in the conference, right? I saw her take down that Mega Pinsir. You should really consider getting her a Meganiumite!"
"Meganiumite, huh…?" Ash cupped his chin in thought. "Nah," he shook his head, smiling. "Thanks, but no thanks. I don't think that kind of fighting style suits my Bayleef. Besides, she's really cute as is!"
"Ah, that's right." Oliver laughed to himself. "Her stunt, in the stadium. That was rather bold."
"Bold's her middle name!" Ash grinned, brushing his index over his nose. Said 'stunt' being kissing him live on KTV, after her victory. The newspapers were abuzz with it, for a quick minute.
"An appreciator of the Chikorita line of any kind is a fine man in my book," Oliver shook his head with a smile. "Suit yourself! But next time, you will take us seriously!" Fire returned to his eyes.
Ash smirked. "I'll be counting on it!"
Oliver retreated, and Ash sighed, content. "Well, Greninja…" He turned to his partner.
Greninja had vanished already. Ash would inquire why, if not for Shauna running up to him.
"C'était fantastique!, Ash!" The shorter woman grinned, affectionately tapping his chest. At her meager height, she had to raise her loose fist to eye level. "Worthy of a Conference Champion!"
"Aw, c'mon…!" Ash tinkered with his cap's brim, smiling politely. "...It was awesome, wasn't it?"
"Tout à fait!" Shauna cooed. "But, if you don't mind, I have a question?"
"Shoot!"
"Why didn't you transform into Ash-Greninja?" She frowned. "You had all that power waiting under the surface, ready to burst - and Oliver even asked to see it!" She held her index up to her lip. "Oh, is it because you get tired? Sawyer mentioned something about how you used to collapse when you used it… That doesn't still happen to you, does it?"
Ash shook his head. "Not anymore," he smiled. "Well, it is a little tiring, yeah. You try keeping up with a Pokémon's moves and lookin' through their eyes! It's like riding a really intense rollercoaster. You get off the ride and you can barely put one foot in front of the other. And, you have to be careful not to snack too soon after the ride, or you might lose your lunch."
Shauna made an 'o' shape with her mouth. "I can hardly imagine. It sounds… fun…?" She sounded hesitant.
"It is!" He laughed. Adrenaline junkie. "But, that's besides the point. The real reason is because it allows us to challenge ourselves."
"Challenge yourselves…?" Shauna echoed.
"Unless the stakes are dire, it's no fun just taking the easiest option. Using the Bond Phenomenon when I don't have to is kind of like… bringing my old Pokémon to a Gym Battle, you know? You'd just be steamrolling with your advantage. You wouldn't learn anything, and neither would your Pokémon! Now, that's not always true…"
"But on the median," Shauna tacked on helpfully.
"Right." Ash would just assume that word applied. "Battling through adversity has always been our way. You'll never know exactly what you can do until you put yourself in a tight spot!"
"Je vois!" Shauna's gorgeous, pale green eyes glistened, even in the absence of sunlight. "I get it now. It's like when your friend gifts you a puzzle because you know you like 'em, but it's one of those puzzles for kids." She smiled, idly twirling her finger through her hair loop, averting her eyes. "It's easy to complete, buttt you don't really sharpen your skills or have any fun if you do."
"I said I was sorry," Ash pouted. Shauna's birthday had come just a week after the League.
"Quand même," Shauna continued, changing the subject, "it doesn't get much tighter than a Water-type against a big, sturdy Grass-type like that!"
"Yes and no," Ash replied. "Mega Meganium was strong and sturdy, but there was something I wanted to test while I was fighting them to see for myself: Meganium are so large, and so heavy, with really long necks. So they're not all that limber, compared to a Chikorita or Bayleef."
"I guess that would be especially true of Mega Meganium, wouldn't it?" Shauna asked. "With all those flowers… They look like a tiered ballgown! Gorgeous to look at, but difficult to move in."
"Exactly!" Ash snapped his fingers, happy that Shauna understood what he meant. "I realized that, when we were battling; every time Greninja got ahead of them, Mega Meganium had to keep shuffling around, and they couldn't keep up. So, once I froze their neck over with all of the mist from the Water Shuriken—"
"So, that's why you used those!" Shauna exclaimed. "You were trying to freeze them!"
Ash nodded. "And like that, they were basically defenseless! We didn't need the power of Ash-Greninja! They already gift-wrapped us a weakness to overcome, with our wits."
"So you drew out their attacks to test that for yourself…?" Shauna speculated.
Ash winked. "That's the long and short of it!"
Shauna touched her fingertips to her cheek, which filled with a dark flush. She had an appreciation for wits and tactics, even if battles were never really her interest. And, Ash seemed to have an endless supply. "There's so much more to battles than I would've imagined…" A beat. "Hey, you said that form doesn't suit your Bayleef. Is that why? She's more limber?"
"Uh-huh!" Ash nodded. "My Bayleef's a physical brawler, who loves to throw her weight around. Besides, she has an Adamant nature; she doesn't like fighting from a range, so she's not really good with special attacks. I can't remember the last time she's even used one." He scratched his cheek. "But aside from all that, even if she had all of Meganium's extra weight…"
"...She'd have less ability to use it as she pleases," Shauna finished. "So, that must be why you keep some of your Pokémon in their middle stages, right? Like your Quilava, and Pikachu?"
"Peeks is a special case," Ash laughed. "Maybe he'll come around to it one day, but that's about his pride. But with Quilava, you're right on the money! The power of a middle stage is a step up from the first one, but for some Pokémon, I think they're better off using a balance of power and speed. Bayleef's one of those Pokémon." He folded his arms. "So, I don't regret that, one bit!"
Shauna let that information sink in. She adopted a mischievous grin. "I bet you also think she's just cuter in that shorter, curvier form she's got."
"Uh…?" Ash blinked.
"Between Bayleef, and that Meloetta of yours… Braixen." Shauna reached behind Ash, and shoved him forward,
"Woah!?" Ash exclaimed. He was caught entirely off-guard by Shauna hopping up on his back, securing her thighs and calves around his waist. She draped her arms over his shoulders, hugging around to meet across his chest.
He had such broad shoulders, she thought quietly with delight.
"You just seem to like looking big and strong next to your ladies, don'tcha?" Her smile reached her ears, even from Ash's vantage point. Her eyes were narrowed in guile and glee.
"I, erm…" Ash glanced off nervously. Public. They were in public. His dark eyes scanned the street, and found that everyone had mostly gone back to minding their business after the battle's end. They were in the shade, so luckily, no one was paying attention to Shauna's remarks.
"Well, Serena and Miette are taller than me, so…!"
Shauna pouted, and brushed her cheek against his. "They're statistical anomalies~!"
Ash blinked twice. He was lost.
"I'm trying to flirt with you, here!" Shauna groaned. "Work with me!"
"Oh!" Ash exclaimed. For someone with enough relationship experience to be affectionately labeled the group bicycle, he still wasn't fantastic at reading cues. He smiled, and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You're right. It's fun to be the big guy, when you started your journey at a puny 140cm."
Shauna's eyes widened. "Je ne te crois pas."
"Hey, T is a hell of a drug," Ash snorted. Maybe there was something to the contrast in those relationships that beat down what was left of the gender dysphoria. "Besides, without me, who else would you all even climb up on? It's a public service." He shrugged his shoulders with a dramatic sigh, as if his role of 'big fucking tree of a boyfriend' just couldn't be helped.
Shauna's glowing smile returned, and she secured her hold, planting a big kiss on his cheek. She heard Ivysaur grumble about PDA, but ignored her, nuzzling into her boyfriend even more.
"We fit together," she cooed. "Like a puzzle."
